5 Feb 2015

Reports this week suggest that Burnley star Danny Ings has his heart set on a summer move to Anfield, and according to Liverpool legend John Aldridge, the 22-year old striker is a perfect signing for LFC.

* Ings wants to join Liverpool in the summer.
* He'll reject a move to Real Sociedad as he 'favours' a move to Anfield.
* Manchester City are also tracking Ings and may also make offer at the end of the season.

In his column for the Liverpool Daily Post this week, Aldo insisted that signing £10m-rated Ings is a 'no-brainer', and explained why the Reds should forget about signing '£50m-£60m' players and bring in the 22-year old:

"Ings has got great potential, and I’d rather see us spend on [him] than on, say, Iago Aspas. Ings wouldn’t be regarded as much of a gamble. He knows where the goal is and he will improve".

For a team that will - according to Rodgers - challenge for the title next season, a signing like Ings doesn't really inspire much confidence. That said, there are some obvious benefits to consider:

* As Aldo suggests, there's very little risk involved. Liverpool will pay jus £3m in compensation for Ings, and even if he fails miserably, the chances of making a huge financial loss are slim.

* Based on recent form, Ings is a clear upgrade on Lambert, Balotelli, and Borini, and the fee from the (inevitable) summer sale of one of those three will cover the compensation outlay. So, in effect, Ings will be a free transfer.

* Settling-in time won't be an issue as Ings is already playing in the Premier League.

* Ings is English, so if he plays well, Liverpool can sell him at some point down the line for a grossly inflated transfer fee. It'll make a refreshing change to the Reds constantly paying through the nose for English players.

After subbing-off Ings during Burnley's 2-0 defeat to Sunderland, Sean Dyche admitted that the Liverpool speculation is having a negative impact on the striker. He told reporters:

"It [the LFC rumours] have affected him, but he is human and I thought it was too much this week. Unless someone has got an impossible amount of money, then he will be a Burnley player [until the summer]”

Ings' loss of focus is a tad unprofessional, but understandable. A year ago, he was playing in the Championship, and now, he's wanted by the mighty Liverpool, which is enough to make anyone's head spin.

However, 6 months is a long time in football, and it's possible that Liverpool may lose interest between now and the summer, just as the club (seemingly) did with Yehven Konoplyanka.

* The Reds were heavily linked with Konoplyanka during he January 2014 transfer window.

* The deal failed, but soon after, the player's agent claimed that he was 'a thousand per cent sure' that Liverpool would 'try again in the summer'.

* Clearly, that didn't transpire, and the same thing could happen with Ings.

New targets will inevitably emerge between now and the summer, but Ings is such a major bargain that there's probably more chance of a deal being completed.

The other possibility is that Ings plays superbly over the next 6 months, and one of either Man City, Chelsea, Spurs, or Man United comes in and offers him a bigger contract than Liverpool.

I doubt many Reds fans will be fussed either way; Ings is not an essential purchase, and if the deal fails, then so be it.

Financially, it is a no brainer. However, I hope Liverpool is interested in the player for his talent and not only because it makes financial sense (Assaidi). I also hope BR doesn't play him on flanks like he did with Borini and Aspas. Also, he should be given a decent run of games (as a striker) which again BR didn't offer to aforementioned players. Having said that, Ings looks like a budget transfer who can more than fulfil Borini's place in the squad. On the other hand, not sure if Liverpool is the best option for Ings as he should be looking for regular football to further develop his talent.

I think it'll be a case of us qualifying again and if we keep up this style of play, coming back to near how we played last season. That's what will attract, there's enough quality players around for us to get, always going to be some like Sanchez that will be lured away. Plus if we do get rid of Balo we're have a hole to fill for a senior forward player.

For example the likes of Adriano might well fancy a crack in prem league and am sure he is aware of how his compatriot Coutinho slotted in. Might be tempting...

He's less likely to get any more football at the other big clubs supposedly looking in order to up their english quota. If he thinks he is good enough and up for the challenge, let him come and prove it. Plus he's probably thinking his game will improve alongside better players.

I am not saying he should go to other big clubs but he should target a club like say Swansea. Swansea play good footbal, the club is also a regular in EPL, they only have Gomis now who is not yet proven in EPL and they need someone to fill the void left by Bony. Ings should go and play at that level for 2-3 years. However, I agree that if he has enough confidence about his abilities and expects to break into Liverpool's starting eleven then he is most welcome.

Yes profit to be made even if he does not take the step up. With better players around him he might just prove a shrewd signing, but like I said below, another proven scorer needed then we'll go places.

I don't believe there is a "deal" to fail, at the moment. All conjecture. Never the less, all the conjecture has turned my head. I would be gutted if Reds don't get him ( at that price) whether or not he turns out to be a late starter ready to blossoms, it's just too good a business opportunity to miss.

I'd be happy if we got a proven goalscorer like Adriano or if possible Benzema. If Lambert,Borini and Balo go then bring in Ings as well along with Origi coming in. Priority should be ready made european goalscorer.

Our potential in attacking midfield looks great, and Emre Can is going to be one big player for us, hopefully he will be in middle of the park for next season. All in all we're looking good, now lets hope we get that champs league place to attract the bigger names.

Liverpool have announced the biggest kit supplier deal in our history, having signed a multi-year partnership with New Balance.We will switch to current brand Warrior's parent company from next season.

Another Carroll, Lambert, Downing etc in the making. These players do not have a big club mentality. Ings will found himself drowning if he does join us. We need a prolific striker not a player that will have to try and adjust.

It's been reported by almost everyone. FSG are actively trying to convert contracts to performance based. You mention Suarez, but look how he played. He undoubtedly earned every cent of that 200k, and even if we guaranteed that wage, he's proven he's worth it. Vs say Glen Johnson who is earning around 100K for doing jack squat.

You said it almost correct. Owners are willing to pay high salary for high quality PERFORMANCES, not necessarily players. It just so happens that high quality players more often put in high quality performances.

Say we bring in someone like Higuain for example (not saying we have a chance...just hypothetical). The ideal contract imo would be around 80-100K guaranteed with potential to rise to 150K. That way, if he doesn't live up to his reputation, we won't lose nearly as much. Plus he has incentive to play well.

I mean yes, they will pay a "good" salary, but the way they've been changing the wage structure recently, it will probably always have some sort of performance based raise to the "max". I wouldn't be surprised if the Suarez contract had potential to rise to 300K.

I agree with Aldo…don't want a £50-£60mil overhyped player. But I also don't want to gamble on Ings as he might find it hard to step it up on the next level especially if we're in europe. So I'd like to go halfway and pay £35mil for a proven goalscorer, who has european and international experience, and would fit in well with our formation: Please step up Jackson Martinez, or rather, step it up transfer committee and show some ambition in the summer!

Mate the problem with Martinez is the same as with Balotelli. Not enough mobility to suit our system and he does not press. If we want a big name striker that might suit our system look at one of Messi,Augero,Benzema,Sanchez ,Lacazette,Cavani.

The details in terms of numbers have been swept under the carpet for the time being, which makes me think the monetary increase is no big upgrade on our current deal.We could be playing our cards close to our chest, not wanting to reveal the major contract improvement until after summer recruitment, because we have a history of clubs taking advantage in the transfer market.But that's wishful thinking.

BR style is quick attacking and I have not seens Ings in that vein, rather spend that money on Lacazette who appears on whatever limited time I have seen him.Hopefully he might be available or if LFC wants British I think Saido is better.

Plan might be to play Lovren in the three, Hendo at RWB and Can in the middle with Lucas. Do not know how Balo will fit in as one of Sterling or Coutinho would have to be dropped which is not going to happen.

At 5 mil, he cannot be a Downing or Carroll because there is no price tag pressure. If Ings is bought with a prolific striker, it is a brilliant deal. Plus, Ings seems to have an attitude and swagger about him that I never saw from the aforementioned few.

Ings is a cracker. Not many players his age doing the business up front in top European leagues; plus he's doing it with a fraction of the chances that other strikers with his record get, *and* he's doing it from No. 10 half the time. I think he will absolutely fly at a big club. I really like him.

Also his name, Ings, was the name of one of the elder gods of the Anglo-Saxons, Ing. So when you have doubts about him, those of you who are glass-half-empty types, just remember it'll be like signing, I dunno, Danny Thor, and let your doubts dissolve. Hum.

Don't mean to sound pretentious but how many of his games have you watched? I've watched him for the last three years (and been hoping we'd take a gamble on him all this time). He is nothing like balo; he's a very fast, high energy player that is best on the counter and can use both feet very well. IMO, his best talent is his movement which seems to always put him in the right place at the right time and he's fairly tall so he is also a threat from set pieces. He's also the captain of Porto and I personally rate leadership and is one of the best finishers around. The only thing that might be a real concern is that he's a lot like Sturridge in a way. Why it would be a concern is having two of the same striker on the pitch might hinder them both but they can both finish with both feet so they could also be a nightmare for defenders if they got on the same page. Go watch some youtube videos of him and they're actually pretty accurate since he's scored 20+ goals in the last 4 seasons so this is no one season wonder. Also, none of the players you mentioned (bar B) will ever be sold for £35mil or less

these contracts wont wash with established players who can pick and choose and they have to be ingrained on the culture and ethos of the club. They will only truly work if every players contract at a club is bonus related ....eg some player gets 100g for doing nothing yet my 50g a week only gets to 100 for performing heroics

Nice investigative work Gene.I hope the reports are on point.If that's the case we've doubled up financially on our current deal.Billy Hogan is looking like the most valued person we have behind the scenes.

that's the game man... come on, did you change teh result if you complain about the decision........ even with the post match ref report, and the analysis that the decision if wrong, the result of the game still the same......live with that.......

I agree the result stays the same and there will always be teams disputing decisions. However. it is not unreasonable to criticise things you feel are wrong and it carries more weight if you win as we did despite the errors.

If your bank loses even a tenth of the money in your account due to bad investments (think Northern Rock) do you say "well that's part of the risk putting my money in a bank" or do you rightly complain about it?